Early Years teaching gets a boost with fully-funded student places

​The University of Northampton’s School of Education is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract from the Government to continue to deliver routes to gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) which commence in September 2014.

Early Years teachers have a specialist role in working with babies and children up to five years-old. With 55 fully-funded student places available for graduates, and 25 undergraduate places, the University will be able to continue to provide well trained and respected Early Years teachers, who make a difference to the lives of young children locally and nationally.

The University will be delivering different routes on the programme:

1. A fully funded part-time route for 40 graduates already working with the EYTS in Early Years contexts, perhaps in a nursery, preschool or as a child minder.

2. A fully funded full-time route for 15 graduates wanting a new career in Early Years with the possibility of a bursary for those new to the profession with a good degree.

3. Full-time undergraduate places for 25 students combining a BA in early Childhood Studies with Early Years Teacher Status. Funding for this is through the usual undergraduate student loan scheme.

Gill Handley, Director of the Early Teacher Status Programmes at the University of Northampton, commented: “The development of the Early Years Teacher Status programme recognises the need for specialist Early Years teachers who have an important role in improving the quality of provision for our youngest and most vulnerable children. The need for good quality early years care and education is being increasingly recognised, both nationally and internationally, as it becomes more and more evident that good quality services, with well qualified early years graduates, who support the holistic development of young children, can have a significant impact on children’s wellbeing and later life chances.

“With over 40 years of Educational Teaching experience, the University of Northampton is recognised as a leading provider of Higher Education level training for teachers and allied professionals working in early years settings. We are also supporting the national and international campaign to put early childhood development at the heart of the United Nations post-2015 development goals.”

The Early Years Division in the School of Education has achieved excellent quality assurance reports year-on-year for all its programmes. In 2012, it received commendations for the exceptional quality of teaching, learning and student support by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education – one of only two providers of Early Years Professional status to do so. In addition, the School of Education is a top ten provider of Education courses in the national Guardian League Table for 2014.

The University is now accepting applications and detailed information and application forms for all routes are now available here​ or contact admissions@northampton.ac.uk

Information events and interviews will take place from the beginning of March.